Q. 87.10. Wherein doth true grief for sin consist?
A. True grief for sin doth consist in our mourning and sorrowing for sin, not only as it is like to bring ruin upon ourselves, but chiefly as it hath brought dishonour upon God's name; not only as it hath wounded our consciences, but chiefly as it hath wounded our Saviour; not only as without repentance it is like to damn our souls, but also as it hath debased and defiled our souls. "I will declare mine iniquity: I will be sorry for my sin."—Ps 38:18. "I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight."—Ps 51:3-4. "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn."—Zech 12:10. "We have sinned; we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."—Isa 64:5-6.
Q. 87.11. May we not truly grieve for sin, though we do not weep for it?
A. 1. If we can readily weep for other things, and cannot weep for sin, the truth of our grief is very questionable. 2. There may be true and great grief for sin without tears, in them that are of a dry constitution, and are not prone to weep upon any account; and as there may be in some many tears in the eye, where there is no grief in the heart, so in others there may be much grief in the heart, where there are no tears in the eye.
The Shorter Catechism Explained--Thomas Vincent
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